ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of Xixintang （XXT）-medicated serum on the amyloid β-protein （Aβ）_25-35-induced polarization of BV-2 microglial cells by a cell experiment and uncover the potential mechanisms of this formula in the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease （AD）， thus providing scientific evidence for the clinical application of XXT. MethodsBV-2 microglial cells were subcultured. The optimal concentrations of XXT-medicated serum and Aβ_25-35 were determined via the cell-counting kit-8 （CCK-8） assay. The cell experiment was carried out with the following groups： blank control， model （Aβ_25-35 at 40 μmol·L^-1）， XXT-medicated serum （Aβ_25-35 at 40 μmol·L^-1 + 10% XXT-medicated serum）， and blank serum （Aβ_25-35 at 40 μmol·L^-1 + 10% blank serum）. After 24 hours of cell incubation， immunofluorescence was used to detect the expression of ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule 1 （IBA1）， CD16/32， and CD206. Real-time PCR was performed to measure the mRNA levels of CD206， CD163， inducible nitric oxide synthase （iNOS）， and arginase 1 （Arg-1）. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was employed to quantify the levels of nerve growth factor （NGF）， iNOS， and Arg-1. The nitric oxide （NO） concentration was determined via the nitrate reductase method. ResultsCompared with the blank control group， the model group showed increased expression of IBA1 and CD16/32 （P<0.01）， decreased expression of CD206 （P<0.05）， upregulation in the mRNA level （P<0.01） and content （P<0.05） of iNOS， downregulation in the mRNA levels of CD206， CD163， and Arg-1 （P<0.05， P<0.01）， lowered levels of Arg-1 and NGF （P<0.05）， and an elevation in the NO level （P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， the XXT-medicated serum group exhibited reduced expression of IBA1 and CD16/32 （P<0.05， P<0.01） and increased expression of CD206 （P<0.01）. Both the content and mRNA level of iNOS were downregulated （P<0.05， P<0.01）， while the mRNA levels of CD206， CD163， and Arg-1 were upregulated （P<0.01） in the XXT-medicated serum group. In addition， the XXT-medicated serum group showed elevated levels of Arg-1 and NGF （P<0.05） and a lowered level of NO （P<0.05）. The blank serum group showed no statistically significant differences in the measured parameters compared with the model group. ConclusionThe XXT-medicated serum can inhibit the polarization toward the M1 phenotype and promote the polarization toward the M2 phenotype， exerting anti-inflammatory and neurotrophic effects.

The medicinal use of Malvae Semen has a long history. In this paper， by consulting the ancient materia medica， prescription， agronomy， literature and other aspects of the classics， the name， origin， evolution of scientific name， quality， harvesting and processing， functions and indications and others of Malvae Semen were systematically sorted out and verified， so as to provide a basis for the development and utilization of famous classical formulas containing this herb. According to the textual research， Shennong Bencaojing began to use Dongkuizi as the correct name， which was used in the past dynasties， and there were also aliases such as Kuicaizi， Huacai， and Kuizi. Through the original research， it can be seen that Kuicai is the mainstream original plant of Malvae Semen， that is， Malva verticillata var. crispa， the Alcea rosea and M. cathayensis are also used. In modern times， the seeds of Abutilon theophrasti have been passed off as Malvae Semen， while the seeds of M. verticillata var. crispa have rarely been used in medicine. And Abutili Semen has been another medicinal material with different efficacy since the collection of Newly Revised Materia Medica in the Tang dynasty. Since the Ming and Qing dynasties， the cultivation of Kuicai has been decreasing， while A. theophrasti is more common and easy to obtain， and Abutili Semen and Malvae Semen are similar in morphology and confused， which should be corrected. In addition， Malvae Fructus is a Mongolian customary medicinal herb， which is different from the traditional use of seeds in traditional Chinese medicine. Kuicai， as an important vegetable in history， was widely cultivated and gradually shrunk after the Song dynasty， it is now mainly produced in southern provinces. The quality evaluation of Malvae Semen is better for those with dry bodies， full grain， grayish brown color， no mud， and no impurities. The harvesting is generally in the autumn and winter. After drying， it is seeded， sieved peel and impurities， mashed， or slightly stir-fried to yellow-white color with gentle fire. It is sweet， cold and slippery in nature and taste， with the main effects of laxation， diuresis， lactation and elimination of swelling. The efficacy of Abutili Semen is clearing heat and removing toxicity， promoting diuresis and removing nebula， the efficacy is quite different from that of Malvae Semen. Based on the results of textual research， it is suggested that M. verticillata var. crispa should be used as the medicinal source of Malvae Semen in the development of famous classical formulas， the corresponding processing methods should be selected according to the requirements of drug processing in the formulas， while the raw products are recommended to be used if the processing is not specified.

The medicinal use of Malvae Semen has a long history. In this paper， by consulting the ancient materia medica， prescription， agronomy， literature and other aspects of the classics， the name， origin， evolution of scientific name， quality， harvesting and processing， functions and indications and others of Malvae Semen were systematically sorted out and verified， so as to provide a basis for the development and utilization of famous classical formulas containing this herb. According to the textual research， Shennong Bencaojing began to use Dongkuizi as the correct name， which was used in the past dynasties， and there were also aliases such as Kuicaizi， Huacai， and Kuizi. Through the original research， it can be seen that Kuicai is the mainstream original plant of Malvae Semen， that is， Malva verticillata var. crispa， the Alcea rosea and M. cathayensis are also used. In modern times， the seeds of Abutilon theophrasti have been passed off as Malvae Semen， while the seeds of M. verticillata var. crispa have rarely been used in medicine. And Abutili Semen has been another medicinal material with different efficacy since the collection of Newly Revised Materia Medica in the Tang dynasty. Since the Ming and Qing dynasties， the cultivation of Kuicai has been decreasing， while A. theophrasti is more common and easy to obtain， and Abutili Semen and Malvae Semen are similar in morphology and confused， which should be corrected. In addition， Malvae Fructus is a Mongolian customary medicinal herb， which is different from the traditional use of seeds in traditional Chinese medicine. Kuicai， as an important vegetable in history， was widely cultivated and gradually shrunk after the Song dynasty， it is now mainly produced in southern provinces. The quality evaluation of Malvae Semen is better for those with dry bodies， full grain， grayish brown color， no mud， and no impurities. The harvesting is generally in the autumn and winter. After drying， it is seeded， sieved peel and impurities， mashed， or slightly stir-fried to yellow-white color with gentle fire. It is sweet， cold and slippery in nature and taste， with the main effects of laxation， diuresis， lactation and elimination of swelling. The efficacy of Abutili Semen is clearing heat and removing toxicity， promoting diuresis and removing nebula， the efficacy is quite different from that of Malvae Semen. Based on the results of textual research， it is suggested that M. verticillata var. crispa should be used as the medicinal source of Malvae Semen in the development of famous classical formulas， the corresponding processing methods should be selected according to the requirements of drug processing in the formulas， while the raw products are recommended to be used if the processing is not specified.

ObjectiveTo explore the potential mechanism of Xixin Decoction （洗心汤， XD） in treating Alzheimer's disease （AD）. MethodsXD-containing serum was prepared， and the BV-2 microglial cell viability was assessed using the CCK8 assay to determine the optimal intervention concentrations of XD-containing serum and amyloid-beta _25-35 （Aβ_25-35） for subsequent experiments. BV-2 cells were divided into four groups， control group， model group （Aβ_25-35）， XD-containing serum group （Aβ_25-35+ XD-containing serum）， and blank serum group （Aβ_25-35 + blank serum）. After 24 hours of culture， the levels of interleukin-1β（IL-1β）， cyclooxygenase-2 （COX-2）， and arginase-2 （Arg-2） in the supernatent were detected by ELISA. Immunofluorescence staining was performed to detect the protein levels of ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule 1 （IBA1）， CD86， and CD206. RT-PCR was used to analyze the mRNA expression of IL-1β， interleukin-6 （IL-6）， and interleukin-10 （IL-10）. ResultsThe concentrations of 10% XD-containing serum and 40 μmol·L^-¹ Aβ_25-35 were selected for subsequent experiments. Compared to the control group， the model group showed significantly increased levels of IL-1β and COX-2 in the supernatant， as well as elevated protein expression of IBA1 and CD86 and increased mRNA expression of IL-1β and IL-6， while exhibiting significantly reduced levels of Arg-2 in the supernatant， CD206 protein expression， and IL-10 mRNA expression （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Compared to the model group， the XD-containing serum group showed significant improvement in all these indicators （P＜0.01）， whereas no statistically significant differences were observed in the blank serum group （P＞0.05）. ConclusionXD may regulate microglial activation， inhibit pro-inflammatory factors， and enhance anti-inflammatory factor release， thereby improving neuroimmune inflammation and inhibiting the progression of Alzheimer's disease.

Chronic refractory wound （CRW） presents significant clinical treatment challenges due to pathological characteristics such as persistent inflammation， bacterial infection， oxidative stress and inadequate angiogenesis. Astragali Radix， a traditional Chinese medicinal herb， exerts multi-target pharmacological effects on CRW through its active components， including Astragalus polysaccharides， flavonoids， and astragaloside Ⅳ， etc. Fundamental studies indicate that these components promote CRW healing by modulating inflammatory responses， inhibiting pathogen growth， improving antioxidant capacity and stimulating neovascularization. Network pharmacology and bioinformatics studies have revealed that active components of Astragali Radix target and modulate key signaling nodes such as nuclear factor-κB， phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt， AMP-activated protein kinase， and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor， as well as inflammation-angiogenesis-related pathways， thereby synergistically exerting anti-inflammatory and pro-angiogenic effect. Clinical applications have demonstrated that oral formulations （e.g.， Huangqi guizhi decoction， Danggui huangqi decoction， etc.） reduce healing time of CRW and lower inflammatory marker levels， while topical preparations （e.g.， Zizhu ointment， Huangqi shengji ointment， electrostatically spun Astragalus polysaccharide composite nanofibre dressings， etc.） significantly improve healing rates of CRW and minimize complications.

Background The Qingcaosha Reservoir is facing issues of algal blooms and eutrophication, and the resulting increase in the level of chlorination disinfection by-products in the water has been a major concern. Objective To evaluate the impact of "Algae Monitoring and Control Program in Qingcaosha Reservoir" (hereinafter referred to as the program) on the control of trihalomethanes (THMs) in conventional finished water. Methods From 2011 to 2019, water samples were collected from the Lujiazui Water Plant once per season, one sample each time, and the concentrations of four THMs (trichloromethane, dichlorobromomethane, monochlorodibromomethane, and tribromomethane) were measured in the samples. Using 2014 when the program was implemented as a cut-off point, the entire study period was divided into two phases: pre-implementation (2011–2013) and post-implementation(2014–2019). Segmented linear regression with interrupted time series analysis was applied to assess the concentrations and trends of THMs in the finished water before and after the program launch. Results The concentration of total THMs in finished water increased by 1.561 µg·L⁻¹ (P=0.010) for each season of time extension before launching the program. The change in the concentration of total THMs in finished water was not statistically significant after the program launch, but the THMs concentration showed a decreasing trend as the slope was −0.626 (P=0.001). From 2017 until the end of 2019, the average concentration of THMs in finished water of Lujiazui Water Plant dropped to 10 μg·L⁻¹ or less. Conclusions The algae and eutrophication control measures in Qingcaosha Reservoir have achieved good results, controlling THMs in finished water at a low level, and the trend of THMs has changed from a yearly increase pattern before the program to a yearly decrease pattern after the program.

Objective:To evaluate the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of HEMO-FISS-QoL(HF-QoL) questionnaire (HF-QoL-C) in the Chinese population with hemorrhoids.Methods:From November 2021 to November 2022, a self-constructed general information questionnaire, HF-QoL-C, and the 36-item short form health survey (SF-36), Goligher classification, and Giordano severity of hemorrhoid symptom questionnaire (GSQ) were used to conduct a questionnaire survey on 760 hemorrhoid patients in the anorectal department of six hospitals. The data was analyzed for reliability and validity using SPSS 21.0 and AMOS 26.0 software.Results:The Cronbach's α coefficient of HF-QoL-C and its dimension ranged from 0.831 to 0.960, and the split coefficient was 0.832-0.915. Four common factors were extracted through principal component exploratory factor analysis. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated acceptable structural validity( χ2/ df=8.152, RSMEA=0.097, CFI=0.881, IFI=0.881, NFI=0.867). HF-QoL-C was correlated with SF36 and GSQ( r=-0.694, 0.501, both P<0.01). There were differences in the total score and dimensional scores of HF-QoL-C between surgical and drug treated patients, different grades of Goligher classification for hemorrhoidal disease, and different ranges of hemorrhoid prolapse (all P<0.001). No ceiling effect was found in the total score and the scores of each dimension(0.3%-2.0%). There was a floor effect in both psychological function and sexual activity dimensions (16.7%, 35.1%). Conclusion:HF-QoL-C has good reliability and validity, which can be used to measure the quality of life of Chinese hemorrhoid patients.

Sarcomatoid carcinoma of the renal pelvis accounts for a very low percentage of malignant tumors in the renal pelvis and has a poor prognosis. This article reported a patient with sarcomatoid carcinoma of the renal pelvis. The patient presented with macroscopic hematuria as the first symptom, and CT suggested left renal occupancy, unilateral nephrectomy was performed, and pathology suggested sarcomatoid carcinoma of the renal pelvis. Three weeks after surgery, a follow-up CT showed tumor recurrence. Programmed death 1(PD-1)inhibitor was given once every 3 weeks. Repeated CT examination after 24 weeks of continuous treatment suggested that the recurrent tumor disappeared. The patients was followed-up for 42 months without tumor recurrence or metastasis.

Objective:To explore the clinical effect of a modified surgical procedure for replantation of severed digit-tips in Tamai zones I-II.Methods:From November 2019 to October 2022, the Department of Hand and Foot Microsurgery of the First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College employed a modified procedure (to abandon the anatomically labelling of blood vessels and nerves after naked-eye debridement and fracture fixation, then perform the microscopic dissections and anastomoses of blood vessels and nerves, and the anastomosis of dorsal veins though an auxiliary small incision by the lateral nail fold of the severed digit-tip) to replant severed digit-tips in Tamai zones I-II of 26 patients (29 digits). The patients were 20 males (23 digits) and 6 females (6 digits), aged 3-66 years old, with mean age at 28 years old. Nineteen digit-tips were severed in Tamai zone I and 10 in Tamai zone II. The severed digit-tips were 7 of thumbs, 9 of index fingers, 5 of middle fingers, 5 of ring fingers and 3 of little fingers. Causes of injury were 12 of cut, 8 of crush and 6 of avulsion. Postoperative management included infection prevention, antispasmodic for 3 days and keeping in bed for 5 days. The time of surgery was recorded on all patients. Postoperative follow-ups were conducted at outpatient clinics for 6 to 12 months to observe the survival of digit-tips and the appearance, recovery of sensation and motor functions, strength of digits and patient satisfaction.Results:(1)The surgical time was about 1.0 hour for replantation of a severed digit-tip in Tamai zone I, while it took about 1.5 hours for those in Tamai zone II. (2)Survival rate and appearance: all 29 replanted digit-tips survived, except 2 in Tamai zone I which encountered venous occlusion and survived after small incision for bloodletting. Twenty-two digit-tips gained pulp fat pads with full digit pulps. Four avulsed digit-tips had mild atrophy of pulp. The 15 digit-tips severed in Tamai zone I were about 2 mm shorter than the healthy sides, but without deformity. One digit-tip had poor nail appearance due to preoperative fungal infection of nail bed. (3)Sensory recovery: with the British Medical Research Council (BMRC), 23 digit-tips recovered to S 3+, and 2 digit-tips of avulsion and 1 digit-tip of crush recovered to S 3. TPD of the replanted digit-tips were: 4-7 mm in those of cut injury; 6-8 mm in those of crush and 9-11 mm in those of avulsion. (4)Motion and digit strength: results of functional assessment according to the total active mobility standard promoted by China's Society for Surgery of the Hand were: 21 cases of excellent and 5 of good, without pain in digit pulp when pinching and griping. The mobility of the digits with replanted digit-tips of both Tamai zones I and II were close to that of the healthy sides. The motions of the digits with replanted digit-tips in Tamai zone I were close to the healthy sides and the 5 of those in Tamai zone II had 0° in extension and 2°-3° in flexion, due to the severed plane at distal interphalangeal joint. (5)Patient satisfaction: 25 patients were satisfied, however 1 patient was dissatisfied to the poor function of the distal interphalangeal joint due to the severed thumb-tip in Tamai zone II. Conclusion:Modified replantation procedure for severed digit-tip in Tamai zones I-II has significant achievement in cutting down the surgical time through a modified procedure of debridement and fracture fixation (tendon suture) by naked-eyes operation first, followed by dissections and anastomoses of the blood vessels and nerves under the surgical microscope. The auxiliary small incision by the lateral nail fold of digit-tip in Tamai zone I facilitates an exposure of a constant, healthy lateral nail fold vein. It enables the anastomosis with a high-quality vein, hence improves the success rate of replantation. The appearance and function of the replanted digit-tip are found better in the severed digit-tips of cut injury than those with injuries of avulsion and crush.

Objective To investigate the effect and possible mechanism of Qili Qiangxin Capsule on the en-dothelial mesenchymal transition of myocardial cells in mice with heart failure after myocardial infarction.Methods A total of 21 male C57BL/6 mice aged 6-8 weeks were divided into a normal control group,a drug control group(normal mice were treated with high-dose Qili Qiangxin Capsule),and a heart failure model group.The heart failure model group was divided into a positive drug control group[microRNA21(miR-21)inhibitor intervention],high,medium,and low dose Qili Qiangxin Capsule intervention groups,a total of seven groups.The heart failure model group underwent ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery,while the normal control group and the drug control group underwent the same surgical procedure as the model group,but left anterior descending coronary artery ligation was not performed.A small animal ultrasound ima-ging system was used to detect hemodynamic parameters in mice.HE staining was used to observe pathologi-cal changes in mouse myocardium.Sirius red staining was used to detect myocardial tissue fibrosis in mice.Wheat-germ agglutinin staining was used to evaluate the degree of myocardial cell enlargement.Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was used to detect the expression of N-terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP)and cardiac troponin I(cTnⅠ)in mouse serum heart failure markers,as well as the expression levels of activator protein-1(AP-1)and transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1)in mouse myocardial tissue.Real time fluorescence quantitative PCR(qRT-PCR)was used to detect the expression level of miR-21 in pe-ripheral blood of mice.Western blot was used to detect CD31 and VE-cadherin in mouse myocardial tissue,and immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression levels of a-smooth muscle actin(a-SMA),iron death inhibitory protein 1(FSP1),bone morphogenetic protein 7(BMP7),TGF-β1,Smad2/3,and p-Smad2/3 pro-teins.Results Qili Qiangxin Capsule significantly improved heart function and myocardial tissue pathological damage in heart failure mice,reduced myocardial tissue fibrosis levels,alleviated compensatory hypertrophy of non infarcted myocardial cells,inhibited endothelial mesenchymal transition in myocardial tissue,decreased the expression of miR-21,TGFβ1,a-SMA,FSP1 and Smad2/3,and increased the expression of BMP7,VE-cadher-in,and CD31.Conclusion Qili Qiangxin Capsule may improve myocardial injury in mice with heart failure caused by myocardial infarction by regulating the expression of miR-21 and affecting the downstream TGF-β1/Smad2/3 signaling pathway.